Daveigh Chase’s father says the late actress stays “continually” on his thoughts as he marks what would have been her thirty sixth birthday. John Schwallier mirrored on his daughter’s life roughly one 12 months after the previous baby star died at 35. Whereas the years previous Chase’s dying have been marked by estrangement, dependancy, and homelessness, her father mentioned he continues desirous about her every single day. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as Chase’s explanation for dying, with continual polysubstance use recognized as a major contributing situation.
Schwallier reached out to the Daily Mail to acknowledge that his daughter would have turned 36 on Friday, July 24. “On daily basis I’m desirous about her continually,” he mentioned.
Chase’s father additionally lamented how few private pictures he has of the actress following years of estrangement. “The unhappy half is the one footage I’ve of [Daveigh] is what I’ve printed on the web, since her mom stored me away from her,” he claimed. Chase’s mom, Cathy Chase, has not responded to that allegation.
Regardless of the household battle surrounding his daughter’s final years, Schwallier wished the main target of his message to stay on Chase. “She was taken from this life method too early,” he mentioned. “I simply need to want her a cheerful birthday at present and [tell her] that she is on my thoughts every single day.”
John Schwallier Recounts His Last Phrases To His Daughter
Schwallier was in Las Vegas on June 16, 2025, when he obtained a name informing him that Chase was experiencing a medical emergency. Roy Hernandez, a person who recognized himself as Chase’s boyfriend, allegedly instructed him that the actress was transferring out and in of consciousness. Hernandez reportedly put the telephone on speaker in order that Schwallier might converse to his daughter.
“I simply instructed her I like her and that I’ve been on the lookout for you. I instructed her, ‘I’ve a spot to take you when you make it out of the hospital,’” Schwallier recalled. “I mentioned, ‘I’m on my method, I might be there in three or 4 hours.’ I made it to the hospital in about two and a half.”
When Schwallier arrived on the Los Angeles hospital, he mentioned he was devastated by his daughter’s bodily situation. “She should’ve weighed 65 kilos and seemed even worse than that video going round,” he claimed. “I touched her thigh above her knee, and it was simply bone.”
Her Father Hopes The Tragedy Raises Consciousness
Though Schwallier stays devastated by his daughter’s death, he mentioned he hopes the medical expert’s findings can encourage higher consciousness surrounding HIV and AIDS. He beforehand admitted that he was not shocked when he realized the official trigger. “I’m not shocked,” he mentioned quietly.
Schwallier mentioned Chase had turn out to be so emaciated that he initially struggled to consider the girl within the hospital was his daughter. “I used to be beside myself at first after I lastly noticed her,” he recalled. “I assumed they have been hustling me at first.” “I didn’t assume it was my daughter.”
Deaths associated to AIDS have declined considerably worldwide since their peak within the early 2000s. Nevertheless, the fabric supplied notes that some international locations and areas have skilled will increase in HIV infections or AIDS deaths in newer years.
Daveigh Chase’s Mom Additionally Spent Years Looking
Cathy has supplied her personal account of desperately trying to find her daughter after shedding contact. She mentioned she commonly checked Google and Reddit for any indication of the place Chase is perhaps. Cathy and her youthful son additionally reportedly drove by elements of Los Angeles and visited homeless encampments whereas following potential leads.
“It upsets me as a result of persons are saying I need to’ve been a foul mom, however I by no means gave up on her,” Cathy mentioned. “As a mom, you don’t hand over in your baby. I hoped she would nonetheless come residence.”
Cathy believes Chase’s struggles with dependancy started after a motorbike accident round 2016. The actress reportedly injured her again and was prescribed ache treatment. “She was looking for medication and was partying with the unsuitable folks. I by no means kicked my daughter out. She wished freedom and these folks acquired her hooked on some medication. That was the start,” Cathy claimed.
‘The Ring’ Star Turned A Hollywood Youngster Prodigy
Chase started showing in commercials at 3 years previous earlier than transferring into main movie and tv roles. Her massive break arrived in 2002 when she voiced Lilo in Disney’s “Lilo & Sew.” Her efficiency earned a Younger Artist Award for greatest voice-over work within the pre-teen class. Chase later reprised the function in “Sew! The Film” and the animated tv collection.
She turned equally recognizable for portraying Samara in “The Ring” alongside Naomi Watts. Her terrifying efficiency because the long-haired lady behind the cursed videotape earned her an MTV Film Award for greatest villain in 2003. Chase additionally appeared in “Donnie Darko” and later performed Rhonda Volmer throughout 32 episodes of HBO’s “Huge Love.”
